Atheists Protest "Reclaim" Conference in Lewisville Thursday

Protesters demonstrated briefly this afternoon in front of Lakeland Baptist Church in Lewisville, the site of conference put on by the group Reclaiming Texas for Christ (RTC), a group that promotes a Christian-centric view of civics. The conference program lists topics such as "Exposing the Radical Islamic Agenda in the United States" and "Original Intent: America’s Judeo-Christian Heritage". The group lists numerous Republican elected officials and party operatives as committee members.

The protest, organized by the group Metroplex Atheists had less than about 15 participants, some from the umbrella organization Dallas Fort Worth Coalition of Reason. Terry McDonald, the event's organizer and group president said that even though the RTC group's website claims that they are not political, the very notion of claiming a political subdivision makes it political. McDonald worries the group is promoting theocracy. "I'm honestly more afraid of groups like this than I am of the Muslims," McDonald said, referring to RTC's program item about radical Islam.

McDonald said that his group supports freedom, and the separation of church and state. "Texas belongs to all Texans, not just the Baptists," said McDonald. The protesters brought signs out at the corner of Cedar and I-35E, next to the church at about noon, just before attendees were set to arrive. The purpose of the protest was not to be anti-religious, but rather to oppose religion in state affairs.

One of the speakers, Timothy Barton, is a speaker from the Aledo, TX based WallBuilders, LLC., which promotes Christian influence in civic affairs, public policy, and education. The group takes its name from a biblical story of Israelites building a wall around Jerusalem to protect the city.